Lawn sprinkler



May 15, 195l L. E. HOLLAND 2,552,716

LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 11, 1947 2 Sheets-sheet 1 i' unl In@ u f 'l' May 15, 1951 L. E. HOLLAND 2,552,716

LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e 90 1 65 58 I 5l fo I e2 Je i aa f I 0 6l e4 f 34 Z? .6' 43 3o 44 lV 33 42 32 gg 2 I6 i7 a l: 2l 7 8 z2v /NvE/vrof? 7/ 7.5- 7/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE 2,552,713 LAWN SPRINKLER Louis E. Holland, Jackson County, Mo. Application lAugust 11, 1947, SerialNo. 767,887

This invention relates to lawn sprinklers and particularly to those of the rotary spray type wherein the spray nozzle is carried by a rotary head actuated by a water jet from the nozzle.

`In sprinklers of this character a packing is necessary to prevent leakage between the rotary sprinkler head and its support, which packing resists free rotation of the sprinkler head. Consequently, substantial water pressure is expended in turning the sprinkler head. Another difliculty :with such devices is that the water pressure exerts an axial thrust between the head and its support ywhich further increases resistance to turning and causes wear of the parts.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide sprinkler structure having a packing between the rotary head and its support which permits substantially free turning of the sprinkler head and which forms a leak-tight, substantially trouble-proof seal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler wherein the rotary head is entirely free of axial thrust produced by the water pressure.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sprinkler which is of simple construction and adapted to be economically manufactured; to'provide a simple anti-fraction bearing between the.

sprinkler head and its supporting spindle to carry the weight of the movable parts; and to provide a connection between the rotary seal and sprinkler head so that these parts rotate as a unit on the spindle.

In laccomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying draw-Y ing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a sprinkler embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the sprinkler from the side opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the sprinkler.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sprinkler with the cover of the rotary head broken away to better illustrate the gearing which effects rotationof the sprinkler head about the axis of the spindle.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a sprinkler constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a base or stand 2, a, spindle 3, a sprinkler head 4 and -a swivel connection 5. The base 2' preferably includes a plate portion 6 having out- Wardly directed ears 'I for attaching leg members 8 and 9. The leg members are preferably formedU 3 Claims. (Cl. 299-68) of strap material bent to provide substantially parallel ground engaging portions II) and upwardly and inwardly extending portions I I and I2 having terminals I3 that are attached to the ears 'I in any suitable manner, for example, by

rivets I4.

Extending upwardly from the plate portion B is a boss I5 :and a laterally directed extension I5 having an axialbore I'I connected with a vertical bore I8 in the boss I5 to form a water passageway I9 therethrough. The inlet of the bore II Vis internally threaded as at 20 to mount the threaded nipple 2| of a coupling 22, preferably for connecting a hose. The bore I8 extends through the top face of the boss I5 and is internally threaded asat 23 for mounting the spindle 3.

The spindle 3 comprises a, tube 24 having a threaded end 25 that is tightened into the threads" `fitting 29 having a substantially cylindrical body I3l) of `larger internal diameter than the outer diameter of the spindle to accommodate packing elements 3| and 32 at the respective ends thereof and to provide an annular passageway 33 in registry with the lateral opening, 28 of the spindle, the passageway 33 being separated from the packing elements by internal annular flanges 34 and 35 which have axial openings 36 through which the spindle extends. seats for packing washers 31 and 38 which encircle the spindle and are retained in sealing re.- lation therewith by followers 39 and 4I) that are sleeved on the spindle and which have external threads engaging internal threads at the ends of the cylindrical body 30 of the swivel. The followers are retained in adjusted position relative to the packing by jam nuts 4I and 42 that are turned on the threads of the followers and which engage the respective ends of the tting as shown in Fig. 3. The followers may thus cooperate with the anges to provide bearing surfaces to maintain coaxial position of the swivel'on the spindle when the swivel rotates` thereon as laterlde- The spin- The flanges thus provide `g'scribed lilxtending from the sleeve-like bodyk casing 4il"having a bottom 49 and side walls- 50-5I and 52-53. The bottom of the casing has a depending boss 54 provided with an axialjV opening 55 to passthe casing over the end of the spindle.

Contained within the casing is a worm gear 56 having a hub 51 mounted on the spindle and xed thereto by a suitable fastening means, such I as a set screw 58 to secure the worm gear from rotation so that it provides a fixed orbit about which planetary gearing is caused tooperate for effecting rotation of the sprinkler head on the spindle. The worm gear is engaged by a Worm 59 fixed to a shaft 68 having the ends thereof journalled respectively in a bearing boss 6l which projects inwardly from the wall 50 and in a bearing contained in a plug 62V that is threadedly mounted in an opening rlocated in the wall 5I in alignment with the boss 6l. .Also mounted on theshaft 60 is a Worm gear 64 which meshes with a'worm gear 65V on a shaft 6'6 thatextends across the shaft 60 and has one end mounted in a bearing boss 61 projecting from the wall 5,3

and in a bearing 68 that is carried by` a plug 69 threaded in an opening 16 of the wall 52.

'The shaft 66 projects through the bearing 61l and carries an impeller disk 1I having a circumi ferential series of laterally extending vanes 12 against which a `jet of water is discharged from .A

a secondary port 13 of a nozzle 14 later described. The disk includes a hub 15 that is mounted on a reduced extension 16 of the shaft 66 and is re,-

tained thereon by a nut 11.

' The open top of the housing is covered by a plate 18 that is secured to the walls of the housing by fastening devices such as cap screws 19. The cover plate 18 includes a laterall extension 88 that projects beyond the side wall 50 'and terf minates in an ear 8l in which the nozzle 14 is mounted so that the port 13 thereof discharges a jet against the vanes 12 to effect rotation of the impeller disk 1I.

nected therewith by a union nut 83.

In order to support the gear casing on the spindle,'the closure plug 21 in the upper end of thetubular spindle 3 includes a bearing cap 84 having an axial recess 85 for seatingra ball bearing 86 which also engages in a recess 81 that is providedin the cover plate 18 of the gear yhousing as shown in Fig. 3. It is thus obvious that the weight of the gear housing andthe parts supported thereby is carried on the ball bearing 86 so that the sprinkler head is adapted for free rotation about the axis of the spindle. V V

The'tie member 41 is of plate-like shape and has one end attached to the gear' casing by screws 88 and the other end has an opening 89 engaging over the cylindrical portion 4'6 of the branch 43 of the swivel member. With this connection, the casing causes the swivel member to rotate without placing strains on the connecting tube 82 or its couplings.

In assembling the sprinkler, the tubular spindle 3 is threaded into the boss l5 on the base or Vstand 2 and the swivel member 5 together with The nozzle is connected with the branch 43 by a tube v82 which is conthe packing washers 31-38 and followers 39-40 carrying the jam nuts 4i and 42 are sleeved over the upper end of the spindle to register the passageway 33 with the lateral opening 28 of the spindle. The followers 39 and 40 may then be adjusted to properly press the packing against the spindle and the jam nuts 4l and 42 are tightened to maintain the adjustment. The gear casing 48v is-then sleeved over the spindle followed by the worm gear ,56flwhich'is` secured'jtothe spindle by tightening of the set screw 58. The closure 21 is then applied to the open end of the spindle and sealed in position as, for example, by soldering orthe like as indicated at 90.

Thefworm 59 -and worm gear 65 are then positioned in the casing and the shaft 60 is moved through the nopening 63 and gears so that one en d thereof is rotatably supported in the bearing boss 6I. The bearing plug 62 is then applied to the end of the shaftand threaded into the opening 63. The gears are fixed to the shaft in any suitable manner, after which the shaft 66 is similarly inserted kwith the worm 65 thereon meshing with theworm gear on the other shaft (Fig. 3).- The impeller 1| is applied to the reduced extension 16 of the shaft 66 and secured thereto bythe nut 11. The ball bearing 86 .is then insertedinthe conical recess and the cover plate 18applied so that the recess 81 therein engages over the ball and the marginal edge v of the plate seats on the edges `of the gear casing walls. swivel is then tied to the gear casing by passing the apertured end of the tie strap 41 over the lateral` branch of the T fitting and the other end is attached to the gear casing by the screws 88. The nozzle :714.is assembled in the ear 8i of the coverlplate'and the tube 82 is connected therewith. The other end of the tube is connected with a lateral branch of the swivel by the union nut 83 which completes assembly of the sprinkler.

-In using the sprinkler, the coupling 22 isr connected with a source of water supply through a hose onthe like-not shown) and when the water isf-turned "on it flows' through VtheV passagewayV I9 into'the passageway' 26of thetubular spindle from whereit is discharged through the openingl 28 into the annular Ypassageway 33 for iiow through`the"tube82 tothe nozzlev 14.

'The water is discharged in a stream or sprayV from 'the 'nozzle while a secondary jet his discharged through the secondary port 13 to impinge upon the vanes 12 of l the impeller` disk 1i Y tor cause' rotation thereof which effects .planetation of the worm 59 about the worm gear 56 and causes the gear casing to be carried therewith in rotation aboutnthe axis of the spindle.Y

Ther-nozzle and impeller wheel being carried by the casing will move therewith so that the` mightftendto increase the resistance thereof kto j rotation.. It is also obvious that the pressure' wihin the swivel 4acts equally on V,the packing ringsand there is no tendency to leffect axial displacement of the swivel in either direction. Y

Consequently, the sprinkler head and swivel member merely float on the ball bearing 86'to. provide minimum resistance to rotation thereof under the power of the impeller disk. Withv this ...construction it is obvious that only a'small jet The screws 19 are then applied.- Thev need be used for effecting rotation of the impeller `V wheel so that more water is dispersed by the spray.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a sprinkler that is of simple construction and which may be operated with a minimum loss of water pressure to effect rotation of the sprinkler head.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sprinkler of the character described, including a stand, a tubular spindle carried substantially vertically on the stand and having `an inlet at one end and a closure at the other, said spindle having a lateral outlet intermediate said ends, a head rotatable about the spindle, a nozzle carried by said head, a swivel consisting of a part separate from said head and having a passageway about the spindle in registry with said outlet, packing elements carried by said swivel on the respective sides of said passageway, packing glands carried by the swivel for compressing the packing elements in sealing relation with the spindle, a duct connecting the passageway of the swivel with the nozzle, an antifriction bearing between the closure and the head to support the head on said spindle, and a tie member connecting the swivel with said head and having a length to suspend the swivel spaced below said head for support of said swivel on the antifriction bearing and with said packing glands spaced below the head and above said stand respectively.

2. A sprinkler of the character described, including a stand, a tubular spindle carried substantially vertically on the stand and having an inlet at one end and a closure at the other, said spindle having a lateral outlet intermediate said ends, a head rotatable about the spindle, a nozzle carried by said head, a swivel consisting of a part separate from said head and having an annular passageway surrounding the spindle in registry with said outlet, packing elements carried by said swivel on the respective sides of said passageway, packing glands carried by the swivel for compressing the packing elements in sealing relation with the spindle, a duct connecting the passageway of the swivel with the nozzle, an antifriction bearing between the closure and the head to support the head on said spindle, a tie member connecting the swivel with said head and having a length to suspend the swivel in spaced relation below said head for support by the antifriction bearing and with said packing glands spaced from the head and above said stand respectively, an impeller carried by said head in the path of a spray discharged from the nozzle when the sprinkler is in use, and means in said head connected with the impeller for rotating the head and swivel, said swivel being rotated through said duct and tie member connections.

3. A sprinkler of the character described, including a stand, a tubular spindle carried substantially vertically on the stand and having an inlet at one end and a closure at the other, said spindle having a lateral outlet intermediate said ends, a head rotatable about the spindle, a nozzle carried by said head, a swivel consisting of a separate part from said head and having an annular passageway surrounding the spindle in registry with said outlet, packing elements carried by said swivel on the respective sides of said passageway, packing glands carried by the swivel for compressing the packing elements in sealing relation with the spindle, a duct connecting the passageway of the swivel with the nozzle, an antifriction bearing between the closure and the head to support the head on said spindle, a tie member connecting the swivel with said. head and having a length to suspend the swivel from said head for support on the antifriction bearing and with said packing glands spaced below the head and above said stand respectively, an impeller carried by said head in the path of a spray discharged from the nozzle when the sprinkler is in use, a gear member within said housing and having a hub engaging a bottom of said housing and fixed to the spindle for cooperating with the antifriction bearing in restricting longitudinal movement of the housing on said spindle, and a driving connection in the housing between said gear and the impeller for effecting rotation of the housing incidental to rotation of the impeller, said swivel being rotatable by the housing through said duct and tie member connections.

LOUIS E. HOLLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,164,228 Zint July 13, 1915 1,178,344 Perry Apr. 4, 1916 1,297,818 Fawkes Mar. 18, 1919 1,632,229 Holland June 14, 1927 1,969,718 Barnhart Aug. 14,. 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 512,679 France Oct. 20, 1920 

